According to a study by the Coalition for Energy Savings, representing more than 150 companies and 400 associations, only three countries, namely Denmark, Ireland and Croatia, would be able to reach their 2020 target of 20% energy savings (1.5%/year cut in final energy consumption). These countries have set up credible savings target and energy efficiency plans. On the contrary, thirteen plans, including Germany, Finland, Sweden and all central and eastern EU countries, except for Latvia and Croatia, are either incomplete and not assessable or very low quality.
All EU member states are required to implement Energy Efficiency Obligation schemes (EEOs) under article 7 of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (EED). The energy savings to be achieved by EEOs and/or alternative measures must be at least equivalent to achieving new savings each year from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2020 of 1.5% of the annual energy sales to final consumers of all energy distributors or all retail energy sales companies by volume averaged over the previous three consecutive years where data is available (baseline).